Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-11-16
THE MYSTERY OF PAIN.

madIy over bridges and around curves
as Il bent Cu SELF destruction. The en-
gue. with its eye and heart of fire.
care---t over the dizzy heights of lofty
ya4ucrs Ike some senuient thing,
g'oulu- ia a sense of danger.
But Jar speed WAS tame to Emily
Fowler, w.. Il that thrObbing impatIence
10 lpr Veins.
Gone a. once; he wishes to see you
before lr dies. 80 the telegram had SAID.
Oh, would the train never reach the
city, He was dying-dyIng under a
shadow, AND she was the cause. II he
could live bat month, a week, even a
single day longer, until her confession
should flash around the world. searipg.
as with tongue OF flame, the slander
that hai p,ucGed him from his high
place amogg his fellows,
At last She stood ON the platform of
the station, On the midst of the city'a
gloom and roar. She had a shrinking
fear Of recognition, though she had
been a stranger TO her native place five
years.
She took a carriage 70 W street,
in the suburbs.
Within a few yards Of the house she
paid the man and dismissed him, then
walked mp to the gate that opened upon
the rather spacious grounds The
hOspItable old-fashioned house stood
under the shade of trees. The hall was
brl rllht'y ligh ed, and the windows of
the chamber where he was lying
cleaned dimly.
She rang the bell anu waited. Was
It in some other life she had used TO
walk IN there 70 seek counsel aud SYM
palAy IIou Hitl, rfGt 49,, Tvtsoss-=-=
gentle-taced sister, now dead, had met
her wiJh warm so!icitude, aEd when he
was sailing Uuon the crest OF the wave
OF popularity in the full perfection Of
his splendid powers
- Quiey, mldde-aged woman opened
the door.
She was his housekeeper. Mrs.
FOwIert'' she said euquiriugly. "Yes, -
in answer 10 Tie anxious inquiry in the
eyes of the unhappy lady, ''he is yet
living, and she led tie way into the
dim p.J.or, then went upstairs 10 an
nouuce tie visitor.
How familiar the surroundings
seemed. Ills trouble had not uPrOoted
him from the spot that was his by in
heritauCe. lie had lived here "A re-
cluse since the death of his sister, with
his books and literary work. lie stood
no longer al The sacred desk. lie had
steadily refused the large inducements
offered him, refusing to trade on his
blackened reputation.
The hOusehegUer returned and con-
Quoted her upstG,rs- TIE nurse went
out as she entered. and the two were
left alone together for the last act OF
the tragedy.
The room was large and lofty, with
dark WINDOW uIapeTy sweeaing from
the ceiling to The tinur. The dark walls
were hung with poiuuugs, among them
King Lear wrestling IN the midnight
tempest wg,l L.s awful madness and
despair.
Gregory bancroft Iay there with the
tall bedsJead towering above his head,
q massive Titan OF majestic soul. TIE
strong, grand face bore the impress o.
his grief. Yet his mighty heart had
not brOben. It had expanded with its
great thIues Of sorrow until It Wa!
ready 10 be born into a new kingdom
She stood beside the bed. lie
reached out hand, rs II to welcome
ner.
- cannot take your haudp' she cried
"NOur lie has been ruined through
me. How can you forgiven"
She WAS kueeiIug beside the bed witt
ciasped hands and q face OF anguish
in slr0ng contrast To the high, almos
sublime expression of the face on tn
pillow.
"How can l forgive? Because
have aIsOlved you in my thoughts h
said. e. I knew that 1t was the over
mastering Will OF your husband tina
made you the Instrument Of wrong I
me. l knew that you were not mol
ally responsible for the lie wTung frOr
you ON your sick lei. l uuderstcO
your p cuiiur organization far bette
than YOU knew. l knew you could b
compelled, mesmeIiZed 10y 4 stTonge
Will, in certain nervous states that Zen
dered YOU highly susceptible"
She looked at him with kind OF dill
wonder that he had 50 truly iUtsrprete
the situation.
But you did not know, " she hastene
to say, ''you did not know what COW
ard 1 became when l was once NOR
mistress Of myself and became awaI
what 4 tissue OF falSshOOds had bee
woven 10 eusnare you. 1 declared
would speak and do my share TOWARD
rightiug the wrong. He threatened |
coulue me in an insane asylum.
knew he would fulfill his threat.
seemed to me at last that l was insanu
He held me under the bondage of b
Will. But l will make the cOnfessiC
now, though he Kill me-"
Gregory Bancroft had thought hin
self above emotion, and that the hlgl
holy calm that had come to him aft
the conflict could not agaIu be broke
by sight Of the woman he once love,
But he had mIScalculated his streugt
The magu dceut organization that hs
touched earth at so many points-tl
powerful. passionate nature WAS stirr'
again 10 its depths.
Sue was one of those slight, seemin
ly fragile women who, with no apps
ent potent physical charm, are yet pc
sessed OF some strange magnetic pow